Mental Health and Addictions

Mental Health and Addiction Minors

The Counseling Program's Mental Health and Addiction minors are designed to complement a variety of undergraduate majors for students wishing to incorporate a mental health addiction focus. Four minors will be offered, focusing on alcohol and drug counseling, criminal justice, social welfare, or wellness. 

  • Students who successfully complete a minor with a focus on criminal justice, social welfare, and wellness will accrue three of the seven courses leading toward licensure as a Provisional Alcohol and Drug Counselor (PLADC) in the state of Nebraska. Additional requirements for licensure include the completion of COUN 127, 133, 225, 235, and 300 hours of supervised practical training in the 12 core functions.
  • Students who successfully complete the Alcohol and Drug Counseling minor, and 300 hours of supervised practical training in the 12 core functions, will be eligible to apply for licensure as a Provisional Alcohol and Drug Counselor (PLADC) in the state of Nebraska.
  • Students who successfully complete COUN 127, 133, 225, 235, 321, 323, & 331, and 300 hours of supervised practical training in the 12 core functions, will be eligible to apply for licensure as a Provisional Alcohol and Drug Counselor (PLADC) in the state of Nebraska. An undergraduate major or minor is not required to apply for a PLADC in the State of Nebraska.

Mission

The Mental Health and Addiction minors provide students with an opportunity to focus on Mental Health and Addiction from four distinct perspectives: alcohol and drug counseling, criminal justice, social welfare, or wellness. In addition, we support rural health by providing opportunities for students to meet academic requirements for licensure as a Provisional Alcohol & Drug Counselor (PLADC) in the state of Nebraska.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Students will identify the professional theories and techniques of addiction counseling.
  • Students will explore aspects of counseling ethics and diversity.
  • Students will identify medical and psychosocial aspects of addiction.
  • Students will explore addiction from an alcohol and drug counseling, criminal justice, social welfare, or wellness perspective.

Provisional Alcohol and Drug Counselor (PLADC)

A Provisional Alcohol and Drug Counselor (PLADC) Is a person working toward full licensure as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC). He or she is working to obtain the required 6,000 hours of supervised paid clinical work experience in alcohol and drug counseling. An Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) is a person who provides the 12 core functions of screening, intake, orientation, assessment, treatment planning, counseling (individual, group, and significant others), case management, crisis intervention, client education, referral, reports, record keeping, and consultation, with other professionals in regard to client treatment and services. These core functions are in accordance with the IC&RC/AODA, Inc.